Surely you have heard many times that using strong passwords is essential to protect our data. In the health field, a lot of confidential and sensitive information about our patients is handled that must be covered.
A few years ago, all procedures were done manually. Technology and information technology have been seen as opportunities to optimize time.
Do you want to know the importance of having secure passwords? Read this article, and we will inform you of everything!
The importance of a strong password
In a medical center, all passwords must be different for each service. In the event of a cybersecurity problem, access to all information would be prevented.
A few years ago, this sector was irrelevant to cybercriminals. Currently, cyber-attacks have increased up to 48%.
To have good cybersecurity, the main thing is to have strong passwords. The data shows that 93% of healthcare organizations have suffered data breaches in the last two years. Additionally, 81% of these breaches were caused by weak or default passwords.
What to keep in mind to create a secure password?
First, passwords must be at least eight characters combined with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. Having at least 12 characters in the health field is recommended for greater security.
It may be hard for us to remember them at first, but writing them down on paper or the computer is a mistake! We would be putting all our computer systems at risk.
In the health field, taking care of client’s privacy is paramount. Therefore, it is essential:
- Do not give your password to anyone: Thanks to your password, you can access different services: medical records, appointments, and reports. Giving up your password can mean someone not authorized to send emails on your behalf.
- Passwords make us responsible for where we log in: If we don’t take care of our passwords, someone could access all that sensitive information on our behalf.
- Your password is your signature: You are responsible for everything signed. Giving up your password could cause records to be signed, making you the primary person responsible.
Strong passwords: some examples
Changes in organizational systems have led to an increase in cyberattacks. Cybercriminals have set their sights on the health sector and are carrying out phishing or data theft campaigns.
A situation that can have negative consequences on computer systems and patient safety.
Passwords from a phrase
We could think of a phrase we like, or that means something to us. Or, for example, the title of your favorite song.
Imagine, for example, the sentence: “Laura loves to walk in the countryside and catch butterflies.” If we keep the first letter of each word, it will look like this. “ALLeppecycm.” We could even add some symbols for more security: “ALleppecycm%.”
Passwords without vowels
What if we choose to remove the vowels? It is another possibility that we have to make our passwords more personalized.
Taking the previous case as an example, it would look like this: “Llppcycm%.”
Use an interspersed word and number.
In this case, choose a word and a sequence of numbers. For example, 52578143. If we decide, for example, the term “daisy,” we will put the mixed numbers in such a way: “M5a2r5g7a8r1i4t3a”. Something more complicated for hackers to guess.
What should I avoid to create a strong password?
Here are some tips to avoid when creating a password. Do not forget that the security of your data is the most important!
- Change passwords periodically.
- Do not use the same passwords for all services.
- Do not include special dates, birthdays, or names of your children.
- Avoid passwords like “admin” or “12345”.
The important thing is always to use common sense. At wpkraken we care that your patients have complete security.
That is why we have the ISO 27001 information security certification. A certification guarantees that the service meets the information and data security requirements.
Do you have any doubts? Contact us. We will be happy to advise you and offer you the best service adapted to your company.
